Beer: Reviews & Ratings

On tap at Tyranena. Dark pour. Aroma of mild bourbon and sweet chocolate. Very tasty. Hints of caramel, chocolate, mild roast, and just the right amount of bourbon. One of the best beers I’ve had from Tyranena. (212 characters)

Trade extra from a couple weeks ago. Thanks! Pours black into the glass, though not super viscous thick. Very small ring of off white or khaki head that dissipates quickly. Aroma of big earthy coffee, very very sweet chocolate sauce, just a bit of vanilla, a little bit of booze. Flavor is earthy coffee, a bit of sweet chocolate, and lots of vanilla sitting on the palate in a long finish. Not much bourbon influence here as far as I can tell. Silky smooth, but a bit on the thinner side, with low carbonation. Nice mesh of flavors here, though I expected a bit more body and a bit more bourbon. Definitely worth checking out. (627 characters)

A- Pours an opaque pitch black with just a very faint mocha head that dissipates rather fast leaving just a flat top, carbonation seems to be fairly minimal.

S- Vanilla beans and cocoa nibs come out nicely balancing well with each other, bourbon very subtle with just a touch of oak. Very nice aTyroma with everything complementing each other nicely, bourbon could come out just a tiny bit more but that's nothing to complain about.

T- Vanilla beans come out nicely up front delivering a smooth yet subtle vanilla taste complimenting cocoa nibs, toasted almonds, subtle bourbon, and a hint of oak. Finishes with a strong vanilla bean flavor that is slightly more bean flavored then up front, slightly boozy on the finish with the bourbon. I'd love to try this without being barrel-aged as I'm not sure the bourbon barrels add a whole lot to the taste other then a very subtle complexity.

O- All of the Tyranena brews I've had have been somewhat gimmicky although very tasty, Doubly Down 'N Even Dirtier is no exception. The flavors play nicely off of each other although I'm not sure if the bourbon barrel necessarily adds a whole lot, I'd love to try it without it. At 7.5% it was still a tiny bit boozy (probably attributed to the bourbon) which prevented me from rating it slightly higher but overall this was tasty and very easy drinking. This won't blow you away but I definitely recommend trying it out. (1,628 characters)

Taste: Rich chocolate, vanilla and coffee roast say "whaazuuupp???" Middle shows a Bourbon emergence with bitter roast and some caramel. The end is a nice fade of rich coffee, distant caramel and bitter chocolate. The vanilla beans add a nice, noticeable extra vanilla dimension that sets this beer a bit above the rest.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied for sure, though not in the realm of Huna or BCBS...but there's no shame in that. For this abv and the style, this feel is just right. This beer is quite crushable.

Overall: I'm thinking crazy things about this beer, like it's better than FBS or even KBS...I wouldn't concretely come to that conclusion without a side by side, but I must drop this simple fact...this beer is nothing short of AWESOME! (1,103 characters)

A - Pouring out a little thin and clear dark brown in color, the black beer generates next to no head. The short skim of toffee-colored foam rests gently on the beer, dotting the snifter in a few specks of lace.

S - Seductive bourbon and oak barrel encapsulates rich milk chocolate, dusty cocoa, notes of cold coffee, and smooth vanilla bean almost perfectly. From the moment the cap is twisted off this bottle, the boisterous nose can't be missed!

T - The slightly thinner flavor, while it's still good, looses a lot of the robustness the nose offers as subtle nuances and richness don't make it through. For example, dry cocoa and bittersweet chocolate take the place of the sweet and more rich milk chocolate nose but, the beer keeps it's super-sexy light barrel aging, which imparts nice vanilla and oak with a hint of alcohol on the finish.

M - Initially medium-full-bodied as it hits the tongue, Doubly Down 'N Even Dirtier begins to feel a little thin mid palate through to the finish, partly due to the bourbon alcohol. Softly warming on the finish, this imperial stout finishes with a lovely dry chocolate flavor that lingers nicely.

O - Doubly Down 'N Even Dirtier creates a robust presence from the minute the cap is released, wafting heavy chocolate malt notes into the air with smooth bourbon barrel-aging coming through. Warm alcohol and vanilla tannins create the ultimate blend with the flavor of this beer, smoothing out for a silky feel that's just a bit on the thin side but damn drinkable regardless. Seductive, delicious, and approachable all the way around! (1,650 characters)

A- Poured from a 12oz bottle to a pint glass with a pitch black, oily thick body. Head forms for a few moments with some dark bubbles but dies fast. No ring and no lace for me.

S- Vanilla coffee latte. Dessert all the way here with a decadent mix of espresso, vanilla, cocoa and oak. Creme brûlée aspects.

T- Good delivery of the bourbon and oak from the barrel, strong but not overpowering. Rich chocolate and coffee as well as roast malts cover all the dark flavor bases. Vanilla whiskey with slight alcohol. Cocoa nib powder picks up big with time.

MF- Moderately thick bodied with medium carbonation level. Finishes with some warmth and roasty cocoa nib bitterness. A bit foamy for this style to me.

Very nice and solid stout with a strong whiskey barrel feel. Solid mix of the rich with the whiskey. (853 characters)

12oz bottle received as an extra in a trade with a generous BA thanks.

Appearance: Pours a murky deep mahogany to black with a 2 finger khaki crown that displays moderate retention and lace.

Smell: Cocoa dominates with lightly fudgy chocolate notes and some vanilla playing supporting roles. Hard to pull much bourbon barrel presence out of the nose, but I'm not sure just how fresh this bottle might be.

Taste: Same as the nose with a bit more vanilla presence.

Mouthfeel: Interesting...goes down feeling like its on the light side of thick bodied yet has a watery quality about it in the finish?

Overall: Seems like a pretty nice rotating offering, but nothing I'd go out of my way to obtain. (701 characters)

Appearance: Black as motor oil. Looked like sludge while pouring. Small film of brown head built up but dissipated quickly.

Smell: picked up hazelnuts, vanilla, chocolate, and oak.

Taste: It is sweet and with plenty of heat the entire sip. Not overwhelming but the heat is not shy. Tasted plenty of hazelnuts, oak, and some vanilla. Bourbon becomes more prominent and it gets sweeter as it warms up.

12oz bottle from the recent brewery-only release from last Saturday, 10/5/2013. Thanks to Brian, 4DAloveofSTOUT for bringing this back for me! Poured into a glass today, 10/9/2013.

Pours a dark black body, not quite motor oil like, comes with a solid 1cm tan head that's gone in a flash. Leaves a bit of good lacing all over the glass. Very typical looking imperial stout, very solid.

Nose is full of chocolate, small hints of vanilla and sweet molasses. The bourbon and oak is there, but its more of a complementary presence rather than a dominant one. Its kind of like a vanilla bourbon brownie. I like how this smells.

On the palate, the bourbon is a slight bit stronger and more present. It's a very good complement to everything else- good bits of chocolate, a little bit of cocoa bitterness, hints of vanilla, subtle roast malts and oak. In other words, this is a fairly balanced, not quite muted but everything is in solid proportions where you can pick out a good number of different flavours in this beer without them being intensely overwhelming.

Not a super thick beer at all. Medium bodied, OK carbonation; I think this actually might be a little bit flat. Still, comes out rather smooth and finishes like a dessert beer should.

This is a bourbon barrel stout that is balanced just right. It's on the opposite end of the spectrum than Bourbon County Brand Stout or some of the other intense barrel-aged beers out there. At $8 for a 4-pack, this is a steal. You could probably drink 2-3 of these without getting drunk. (1,535 characters)

I was able to get 2 four packs of this from the most recent brewery only release.

The description of the beer has a lot going referencing bourbon, chocolate, vanilla and oatmeal all in the same beer. What I tasted was a really solid bourbon barrel stout and at only 7.5 abv, this is something you can safely drink 2-3 of them without getting too drunk.

Right off the bat I was more impressed with this beer than I was expecting and that was because of the thick, black pour into the glass and the delicious bourbon smell. Although bourbon was the prominent flavor to me, I did get some vanilla notes the harder I looked. I did not notice much of the cocoa though.

At first I wasn't sure about having 8 bottles of this beer but now I am happy that I have 7 more to drink. (773 characters)

Reviewing the Doubly Down 'N Even Dirtier from Tyranena Brewing Company out of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. This beer is a double stout brewed with cocoa nibs and aged in bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs and vanilla beans. I have only previously had this beer aged (the 2010 release, I believe), never fresh. Time to give this a review!

Score: 93

October 2013 vintage screw cap bottle. Served in a Perennial taster tulip and enjoyed on 10/05/13.

Appearance: Pours an inky black color with a finger of khaki head that settles to a thick ring around the glass. Awesome lacing and excellent retention. 4.75/5

Taste: Bourbon flavor is much more prominent on the palate, but it's not "in your face bourbon" like many other barrel aged stouts. Right behind the bourbon come the stout qualities. Milk chocolate, oak and a much more subtler vanilla character than the nose led on. Finishes with just a little bourbon warmth on the tongue, but this beer is not boozy. Finishes with a little roast and bittersweet cacao flavor. Has a slight sweetness upfront, but a nice bitter-leaning bittersweet flavor profile overall. Has a light yeast-spice character too that comes out a little more as it layers. More oak comes through at room temperature too. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Thin bodied, low carbonation. The base beer was not the most viscous brew, but the barrel aging process noticeably thinned this one out. 3/5

Overall: Looks great, smells wonderful, tastes very good, but the mouthfeel and layering oakiness knocks this beer down a peg. I love how the barrel character does not overwhelm the base, and this is very easy drinking beer at 7.5% ABV. I also love the 12 oz serving size. Give this beer more body and Tyranena would have another true home run on their hands on par with or in excess of Who's Your Daddy. Seek this out if you have the chance, though I would not recommend aging it based on my less-than-impressed experience with the 2010 vintage and the fact that this is a screw cap bottle.

A - Black silk with a 1.5 cocoa head. Fades to a thin collar and nice spotty lacing.

S - Milk Chocolate and cocoa followed by notes of bourbon, vanilla, and wood. Hints of sweet caramel and a touch of bitter chocolate.

T - Big milk chocolate and cocoa flavor with some sweet caramel. Bourbon and wood are subdued along with vanilla notes. There is a slight bitter and light coffee flavor that builds into the finish. This is very chocolaty and delicious.

M - Velvety and smooth, medium bodied. Good amount of carbonation with a rich and smooth finish.

O - A very nice chocolate stout with a tame barrel presence. So easy to drink and so rich and creamy. I'm so happy to live near the brewery since it was not distributed. (768 characters)

The simple packaging of the Brewers Gone Wild! (don't forget the exclamation point) series suggests a brown paper bag covering contents that shouldn't see the light of day. Nothing could be further from the truth, as the string of innovative brews has brought us many delights over the years, and I look forward to sampling many more. I used to consider the stick figure representing brewer Rob Larsen to be a bit of a cheat, until I met the man and realized that the artist actually nailed him with that likeness. So, here's the latest, bought at Zipp's.

Taste: full body, rich dark malt, out comes the chocolate, here comes the 'nilla, lays long and hard on the palate. Whiskey walks in, and settles in for a spell. Flavor is firm and full. Malt backbone is lush, and lovely. Sweetness of vanilla and cocoa is well matched by the lush malty flavor and the bourbon behind it.

Overall, well done, Tyranena. Way to go, Rob, another winner. Wish I knew the strength, so I could be afraid of how drunk I'm getting. Tasty as heck, though, great integration of flavors, especially wonderful deliciousness. (1,352 characters)

12 oz. stubby bottle courtesy of a trading partner, whose name is lost to the annals of history - thanks! Poured in to a tulip.

Appearance: Pours an inky cocoa brown, and a fairly vigorous pour coaxes out only an inch and a smidgen more of head. The head is a nice, consistently hued tawny chocolate, but the retention is fairly pour - inside 60 seconds, all that remains is a consistently sized but inconsistently constituted collar and a paper thin, culture-like surface dusting. Persistent but tiny bubbles of effervescence are visible at intermittent points around the edges of the glass, rising upwards fairly quickly towards the head, suggesting a thin body. Agitation reveals fairly good lace retention, with sizable, crisp, sandy ribbons clinging to the sides of the tulip, surprising given the lack of head retention.

Aroma: Fat brownies, smooth vanilla, and a faint kiss of bourbon make for a smooth and appealing nose. It's rich, without being opulent or offensively decadent; it's sweet, without being saccharine or sticky; it's balanced, and smooth, without being unexciting or flat. If it were amped up from 9 to 10, this one would be perfect.

Taste: A pleasantly flavored beer. The malts are coffee heavy, with a nice toasty, almost dirty espresso undertone throughout. The espresso is balanced nicely by a number of sweeter and less roasted malt overtones - heavy cocoa, almost truffle-like at points, caramel, and hints of toffee. A few hints of darker fruit mingle nicely with the additional overtones present in this one - a slew of vanilla, bright and wholesome, and a nice, subdued, only faintly spicy and sweet bourbon note. The bourbon adds a definite element of warmth, though, again, almost no spice or other presence - that could be due to the age of this one, but it works, on the whole, despite the unexpectedness of the heat with a 7.5% abv.

Mouthfeel: Slick, with a lower level of carbonation, despite the appearance of excessive carbonation at the outset. Very smooth, though almost too thick, given the level of residual sweetness (which, again, isn't overwhelming, but when coupled the low level of carbonation is in combination a little offputting).

Drinkability: All in all, a pretty tasty brew, with a few process issues but a solid flavor profile and a smooth, above average aroma. At 7.5%, you could put a few of these down pretty easily - recommended. (2,432 characters)

A: Good thick pour yields minimal head and leaves a trace of it after the beer settles. It's black as an RIS, though.

N: Chocolate syrup, oak, plenty of vanilla. Great mixture of the bourbon components, the base beer, and the nibs.

T: Balanced, but a little lacking. However, there's an excellent mixture of the coffee and roasted malt "bitterness" and the chocolate and bourbon aspects. However, I'm docking points for noticeable alcohol. At 7.5% this shouldn't even be an issue.

M: Hurts the beer. It's a little bit thin and watery, and as such can't deliver the flavors with a right hook. I know it's a double stout, but it still feels like it should have a bit more oomph.

O: This is so close to being brilliant, but the mouthfeel continues to hold it back. I don't know if it can get any thicker at 7.5% ABV, but if there was just a little more something here this would probably walk briskly into mid 4 territory.

Edit: Dropped this a couple points because it doesn't deserve a 4. (1,047 characters)

The beer pours a dark brown color with a tan head. The aroma is very heavy on the chocolate with some roasted malt, oak and bourbon notes thrown in. The barrel-aged notes are stronger in the flavor, where the bourbon and maple is the first thing to come through. I also get a nice amount of chocolate, as well as some vanilla and some alcohol. Medium to thick mouthfeel and medium carbonation. (436 characters)

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Received this as an extra from Lobonix's "friend" lol.

A - Pours a viscous black color. The normal pour yielded virtually no head, but a thin ring of mocha color bubbles formed around the edges of the glass as night in the glass. No lacing present.

S - They weren’t kidding with the double chocolate moniker. Huge dark chocolate notes along with a nice and prominent, yet very mellow bourbon aroma. I’m definitely picking up some hints of sweet vanilla as well. As the rest of the aromas clear my nose, I also pick up strong notes of roasted coffee.

T – Nice dark chocolate upfront followed by sweet vanilla. The bourbon although very evident isn’t overwhelming and is very smoothy integrated and well balanced. The finish is fairly sweet and roasty with a mild coffee tartness.

M - Medium bodied with medium low carbonation. Although its smooth I would have liked it to be more full bodied and creamier. Perhaps some lactose is needed?

O – This was a wonderful surprise. Its a great beer that is very tasty and well balanced. (1,077 characters)

A: Pours dark brown a shade ahead of black. A half finger of light tan head forms and quickly recedes to a few bubbles. Not a lot of carbonation really.

S: Strong roasted malts with a good amount of dark chocolate and very light caramel and bourbon. I get some oxidation notes and light vanilla.

T: A nice mix of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon with light roasted malts in the background. The bourbon actually tastes pretty dry, reminding me more of a scotch that sits in my mouth long after the stout flavors. The stout remains easy to drink and the flavors not too strong, and is fairly sweet but has a fair amount of bitterness from dark chocolate and hops. I find myself wanting stronger flavors and more complexity, but the flavors that are here are nice.

M: A bit on the thin side but nice carbonation.

O: A very easy to drink barrel aged imperial stout. The flavors are nice, but are pretty tame and not very complex. It is pleasant, though. (1,001 characters)

Pure black, little head gone quickly. Redolent of vanilla and coco on the nose. First sip is bitter coffee and vanilla with the deep mocha following behind. A rich and complex stout with layers of flavor, perfect for sipping on a cold evening. (274 characters)